Friday, June 06, 2008

John Howard reported to ICC

AN AUSTRALIAN doctors' group is pushing to have former prime minister John Howard charged with war crimes for sending troops to Iraq.

The Medical Association for the Prevention of War said the war was illegal because it was not backed by the United Nations.

Association spokesman Robert Marr said Mr Howard committed Australian troops to the war on the basis of misleading information about weapons of mass destruction. He said the medical group was supporting a legal brief prepared by International Criminal Court Action Victoria that would be sent to the court. Dr Marr said more than 650,000 Iraqi citizens had died as a result of the war.

Mr Howard said last week that while the war's cost had been heavy he believed it had been right. He said he would not have brought the troops home at this point.

Former prime minister John Howard could face the International Criminal Court for sending Australian troops to Iraq, under a plan backed by a doctor's group.

Some 550 Australian troops based in southern Iraq have formally ended their mission and begun preparations for withdrawal.

The move fulfils a Labor election promise to bring home combat troops by mid-year.

The NSW division of the Medical Association for the Prevention of War on Monday welcomed "the end of Australia's combat role in the illegal war in Iraq".

The professional not-for-profit organisation claims on its website to promote peace and disarmament and wants Mr Howard to face court action.

"Mr Howard committed Australian troops to the illegal non-UN approved war in Iraq on the basis of misleading information about WMD (weapons of mass destruction)," association spokesman Dr Robert Marr said in a statement.

"As a result of the illegal war in Iraq, over 650,000 Iraqi citizens have died unnecessarily.

"We believe it is important that Australians not blame returning Australian soldiers for their involvement in the war but hold politicians like Mr Howard fully accountable for their decision to send Australian troops to the illegal war in Iraq.

"We understand a legal brief has been prepared by ICCACTION (International Criminal Court Action) Victoria to forward to the International Criminal Court."

About 300 troops will remain inside Iraq, including the 110-member security detachment guarding Australian diplomats and others in Baghdad.

A further 500 will remain in the region, including 200 sailors aboard the frigate HMAS Stuart in the Persian Gulf.